TheWorx

Vote as if It Matters by Paul Krugman (my comments in red) nytimes.com /2016/09/19/opinion/vote-as-if-it-matters.html 9/19/2016 Does it make sense to vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate for president? Sure, as long as you believe two things. First, you have to believe that it makes no difference at all whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump moves into the White House — because one of them will. Second, you have to believe that America will be better off in the long run if we eliminate environmental regulation, abolish the income tax, do away with public schools, and dismantle Social Security and Medicare — which is what the  Libertarian platform  calls for. These scare tactics do not scare me more than continued wars with Mrs. Clinton; but elimination of the income tax shouldn't be in this list as Mr. Johnson has stated he wants a consumption tax with vouchers given to the poor to offset the inordinate hit that a consumption tax would have on them. Howev...

I love protests. If I had been allowed to protest homework and other indignities, I would have turned out a much better person. I had to wait until college to start expressing my 1st Amendment rights--then, against the Vietnam War. That is why it struck a dissonant chord with me when President Obama said that although Kaepernick was within his Constitutional rights to protest, the veteran was hurt by it and he, the President, could understand why. I beg to differ with the President. Unless you are part of the club--properly initiated--you cannot empathize with the other members of the group.When I condemn the doctor or the lawyer for greed, I cannot relate to their hurt feelings. When I condemn the teacher or policeman for union excesses, what do I know how they feel. When I condemn the rich man or the legislator, how can I know the hurt? Likewise, the President cannot know what it is like to sleight the government that sends a man to war unless he has gone through all the initiatio...